The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has embarked on a training proramme with the Youth Migration and Employment Project at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR). The training was aimed at educating young entrepreneurs on the procedures involved with registering products with the FDA.

As part of the FDA’s grand plan of ensuring that the well-being of the public is its priority, it is embarking on public education campaigns in Schools, Churches, Mosques, Markets and other public places.

The participants were informed of products regulated by the FDA to include, foods, drug (herbal, allopathic and homeopathic), cosmetics and household chemicals, medical devices, tobacco and tobacco products as well as blood and blood products. Per them Public Health Act, Act 851, 2012, sections 97 and 118, a person shall not manufacture, prepare, import, export, distribute, sell, supply or exhibit for sale any of the products regulated by the FDA unless the product has been registered by the Authority.

The young entrepreneurs were therefore informed to get the necessary certificates such as; Business Registration, Food Handler’s and Certificate of Analysis of the products before they can proceed with the registration process.

The Students were further informed to complete the appropriate application forms and attach copies of the necessary registration documents and attached samples of the products they wish to reregister.

In response to concerns raised by some of the participants on delays and the cumbersome processes, FDA Officers took the opportunity to explain to the participants issues that may lead to delay of these. The reasons include but not limited to laboratory analysis, documents review, correction and amendment to be made by the applicant among others.

The young entrepreneurs were assured that if all requirements are satisfactorily provided by applicants, a product would receive approval within a maximum period of 3 months with valid for 3 years after, which it requires re-registration.

The participants, who numbered about 10, were told that FDA would continue to embark on public education at such fora, in Schools, Churches, Mosques, Lorry parks and other community places to ensure that traders and consumers especially are well educated to help in the promotion of public health and safety.